Coating machine



Feb. 12; 1935. N. L.'DOLBEY v COATING MACHINE Filed Nov. :50, 1931.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR AZZ-L-DOL fiX TTORNEY6,

' Feb; 12, 1935.-

N. L. DOLBEY COATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.31 v17 arm/Wag Patented Feb. 12, 1935 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEApplication November 30,1931, Serial No. 578,084

In Great Britain December 1, 1930 16 Claims. (01; 91-45) This inventionrelates tothe formation of heat now be described'by way of example withrefor sound insulating coatings or of waterproofing erence to theaccompanying drawings, in which and like coatings and to apparatus foruse there- Figure 1 shows a. side elevation of the apparatus with.partly in section; One object of this invention is to provide a -Figure2shows an end elevation looking from simple method of applying coatingsto surfaces the left hand end of Figure 1, and such as the steel panelsof rolling stock. An- Figure 3 shows a detail view of part .of the otherobject is to form insulating coatings conapparatus. taining a largenumber of small air spaces or The apparatus consists of ahopper 1containing cells. Another object of the invention is to pro-- an endlesstravelling band 2 made ofleather and 10 vide an easily mobile apparatusby means of provid d w h a l r num of h k d pr s which coatings may beapplied with ease to rela- 3 which protrude through the band 2 and servetively inaccessible points of structures. to pickup and hold asbestosflbre supplied to the The invention is based upon the discovery that hpp The band 2 the asbestos a 5 the best coatings are formed,particularly when p nt bove a funnel 4 fo m integral w h the a loosefibrous material such as asbestos is used, pp 1 and i c m un cation atits base with if a suspension of the material is subjected to e u ionside of a fan 5. A brush 6 rr n d suction action. to rotate at a veryhigh speed serves to detach In the best method known to me-of carryingthe fibre from the band and simultaneously to out my invention a fibrousand/ or powdered inp it 0111? 50 that it a s in Small Particles down 20sulating material in the form of relatively small the funnel 4'. The fan5 also draws in any dust particles suspended in air is subjected to theformed Wh t fibres are being p Ase!!- suction side of a fan which blowsthe suspension 0nd brush '1 arran d to r ate at a moderate onto asurfaceto be coated, while atthe same time speed is placed close to the top ofthe band 2 so an adhesive or reagent is separately sprayed onto tha inro at i co s to Contact with the 25 the surface. I fibre on the band andserves to control the Preferably the suspension is made by formingquantity supplied to the brush 6. the small particles in situ by meansof a machine e a 5,Sh0111d be One having relatively few which opens outor disintegrates the raw material blades Spaced apart from one another,Since t and. as the particles are formed, feeds them in is found that afan with a number of close-set 30 suspension to the fan. blades does notconvey the fibre satisfactorily. The adhesive or reagent mayconveniently be The fan-5 draws in the particles of fi e SuS- sprayed bymeans of a normal spray gun and pended in air and delivers them througha hose the insulating material may be' arranged to be 8 h vi g a nozzleA p y gun 10 o r a forced by the fan through an orifice adjacent to,type is connected to the end of the hose 8 and is 35 the n'ormalspraying orifice of the gun. In any arranged t0 p y adhesive Onto theSurface case the streams of adhesive or reagent and of inbe coated atthe same time that the suspension of sulating material are so directedthat they interasbestos particl is Sprayed through the nozzle mingle andimpinge upon the same part of the A l t e moving parts are driven by aSmall e c- 40 surface to be coated. V tric motor 11 which is connectedto drive the fan 40 The preferred material for use in the present 5 andthe brushes 6 and 7 throug be Shown, invention is asbestos, but thisaffords certain while the endless ba d 2 is driven thl'ollgh a ldiflicultiesbecause'when it is handled it tends to 1'7 which-drives apul ey The Pu y 16 is mat and to adhere to any parts with which it co nct d by clutch mechanism to drive a comes in contact and to clog up anymachine low shaft 20,which is joumaled on a fixed shaft 4 through whichit is passed. A-particular feature 38 and to which a Wheel 3 1S y Thisof the present invention consists in providing a wheel 37 is connectedthrough further e machine capable of dealing with partly preparedwheels, as w lie drive the dl s b asbestos; the fibres of asbestosquickly become T e p y 16 a a clutch lining '18 w c ca be mattedtogether and the machine opens out and pressed against a flange 19 onthe hollow shaft 5 separates the individual fibres and then supplies 20.The latter passes through a flange sleeve them to the fan. 15 againstwhich the end of the bearing surface In order that the invention may beclearly of the pulley 16 abuts. A'collar 33 is fixed on understood andreadily carried into effect, one the end of theshaft 20 and a helicalspring 34 apparatus for use in accordance therewith will fixed at oneend to the collar 33 and at the other 55 end to the sleeve surrounds theshaft between the collar and the sleeve. A strap 39 surrounds the sleeve15 and is connected by a Bowden wire 14 to an operating handle 13mounted close to the end of the hose 8, as shown, or on the gun. Thesleeve 15 normally rotates with the hollow shaft 20 and the pulley 16 sothat when the Bowden wire 14 is pulled tight, the strap acts as a brakeon the sleeve 15. The result is that a pin 35 which projects from theshaft 20 into engagement with a slot 36 in the sleeve 15 causes theshaft 20 to move axially relatively to the pulley 16 against the actionof the spring 34, so that the clutch is taken out. The endless band willthen stop, and delivery of the material is thus interruptedindependently of the operation of the fan 5, whereby continued operationof the fan functions to prevent clogging of the material in fan 5, hose8, and nozzle 9. As long as the strap 39 continues to grip the sleeve 15the clutch will remain out because the sleeve 15 is held againstrotation and the spring 34, which has been wound up as well ascompressed, is not strong enough to cause the shaft 20, the gear 37, andthe endless band 2 to rotate backwards. As soon, however, as the grip ofthe strap on the sleeve 15 is released, the sleeve 15 can be rotatedrelatively tothe hollow shaft20 by the unwinding of the spring 34, andsimultaneously the latter will expand and bring the flange 19 intoengagement with the clutch lining 18 again.

The supply of adhesive can be shut off at the same time as the supply offiber, by means of a valve trigger 12 which is provided, as usual, onthe spray gun 10. i

In practice it is desirable to prevent the fibre in the hopper fromadhering to the sides thereof, and for this purpose two slowly movingagitators 21 and 22 are provided in the form of metal sheets. The sheet21 is pivoted at 23 close to the end wall of the hopper 1 and the sheet22 is pivoted at 24 so that it lies fairly close to and approximatelyparallel to the endless band 2. The two sheets 21 and 22 then form ineffect the boundary walls of the hopper and are slowly rocked abouttheir pivots through a small angle by a mechanism which consists of arod 25 fixed to an eccentric 26 at one end and to a pivoted link 27 atthe other end. The pivot 28 of the link 27 is rigidly connected to anarm 29. The latter is connected by a rod 30 to a pivot point 31 on thesheet 22, the point 31 being connected by a rod 32 to the sheet 21. Theresult is that an almost horizontal movement is imparted to the point 31so that the sheets 21 and 22 are slowly rocked about the pivots 23 and24 respectively. It will be seen that the fibre detached by the slowlyrunning brush -7 is thrust downwards into the space between the band 2and the sheet 22 and escapes into the bottom of the hopper.

The amount of fibre supplied to the fan can, of course, also beregulated by varying the speed of the endless band 2. This can easily bedone by changing the gear ratio between the motor and the band.

If desired the bottom of the hopper may be enlarged or widened so as toprovide ample space and thus to reduce choking or bridging of the fibre.

I'he whole apparatus may easily be made mobile by mounting it upon aframe or trolley. It thuscan'easily be taken to any point where it isrequired and has the great advantage that in general only one man isneeded to operate it.

The invention is in no way limited to the apparatus described above, aswhen it is desired to disintegrate or open out the coating material insitu any other means may be used capable of forming the material into astate of sub-division sufficient to form a suspension in air which canbe drawn in by the fan.

Although the invention is particularly applicable to coatings formedfrom fibrous material such as asbestos, animal hair, wool, cotton and soforth, which materials form extremely efficient sound insulators owingto the large number of air cells or pockets contained in the resultantcoating, the invention may also be applied to the formation of coatingsfrom such powdered substances as cork powder and boiler coveringcompositions. These may be cemented in position by the use of adhesiveor simply of water which in this case acts as an adhesive.

Again, waterproofing coatings may be formed, for example, by spraying abituminous emulsion onto a surface and simultaneously blowing arelatively small quantity of asbestos fibre onto the surface by means ofa fan as described above.

Any suitable adhesive may be employed, but the preferred adhesive issodium silicate of 30 Twaddell, although the concentration of sodiumsilicate employed in accordance with the invention may vary between 10and 60 Twaddell. However, instead of spraying a simple adhesive througha spray gun, a solid reagent may be mixed with the fibrous or powderedmaterial and be blown by the fan onto the surface to be coated, while aliquid reagent may simultaneously be sprayed onto the surface; forexample mag nesite powder and magnesium chloride solution may be sprayedsimultaneously in this way as may Portland cement and water.

1 1. In an apparatus for applying a coating to a surface, thecombination of a dispersing mechanism adapted to receive loose fibrousmaterial having a tendency to mat and to form it into a suspension offine particles in air, a fan placed to receive said suspension andoperative to drive it forwards, means for directing said suspension ontothe surface to be coated, and means for simultaneously spraying a liquidonto said surface.

2. In an apparatus for applying a coating to a surface, the combinationof a container for loose fibrous material having a tendency to mat, aband mounted to travel through said container and operative to take upsuch fibrous material, a rotary brush so placed as to be capable ofdetaching fibres from said band and forming them into a suspension inair, a fan placed to receive at its suction side the suspension thusformed, a conduit connected to the delivery side of said fan and adaptedto discharge said suspension'onto the surface to be coated, and meansfor simultaneously spraying a liquid onto said surface.

3. In-an apparatus for applying a coating to a surface, the combinationof a container for loose fibrous material, having a tendency to mat, aband mounted to travel through said container and operative to take upsuch fibrous material, a rotary brush so placed as to be capable ofdetaching fibres from said band and forming them into a suspension inair, a second rotary brush placed between said first brush and thereceiving end of said band and adapted to limit the amount of materialcarried by said band to said first rotary brush, a fan placed to receiveat its suction side the suspension thus formed, a

conduit connected to the delivery side of said fan and adapted todischarge said suspension onto thesurface to be coated, and means forsimultaneously spraying a liquid onto said surface.

4. In an apparatus for applying a coating to it forwards, a conduitconnected to the delivery side of said fan and' prdvidedwith a dischargenozzle, and a spray gun attached to said nozzle and adapted to sprayliquid onto the surface to be coated simultaneously with saidsuspension.

'5. In an apparatus for applying a coatingto a surface, the combinationof a container for loose band mounted to travel through said containerfibrous material having a tendency to mat, a

and operative to take up such-fibrous material, aro'tary brush so placedas to be capable of detacbing fibres from said band and forming theminto a suspension in air, a fan, a nozzle, a conduit connecting said fanand said nozzle, said fan being adapted torec'eive material delivered bysaid dispersing mechanism and urge it through said conduit and'nozzle, aspray gun attached to said nozzle and so located that liquid issuingfrom said spray gun and material issuing from said nozzle can becausedto impinge simultaneously on substantially the same part of asurface to be coated, driving means for said travelling band, saidrotary brush and said fan, a clutch interposed between said drivingmeans and said travelling band, a control trigger for said spray gunmounted upon said spray gun, and an operating handle adapted to controlsaid clutch viii) and mounted close to said control trigger.

6. In an apparatus for applying a coating to al surface, the combinationof a dispersing mechanism adapted to receive loose fibrous materialhavinga tendency to mat and to form it into a suspension of fine.particles in air, a fan having blades located a substantial distanceapart from one another'and placed to receive said suspension andoperative to drive it forwards, means for directing said suspension ontothe surface to be coated, and means for simultaneously spraying a liquidonto said surface.

'7. In an apparatus for applying a coating to a surface, the'combinationof a container for loose fibrous material having a tendency to mat,agitating means within said container,; a dispersing mechanism adaptedto receive the fibrous material from said container-and deliver it as afine suspension in air, means for conveying the fibrous material fromsaid container to said dispersing mechanism, a fan placed to receivesaid suspensiori and operative to drive it forwards, means for directingsaid suspension onto the surface t0 be coated, and means forsimultaneously spraying a liquid onto said surface.

8. In an apparatus for applying a'coating to a surface, the combinationof a; container for loose fibrous material having a tendency to mat, re-

ciprocablewalls within said container for agitating material therein, adispersing mechanism adapted to receive the fibrous material from saidcontainer and deliver it" as a fine suspension in .air, means forconveying the fibrous material from said container to said dispersingmecha-' nism, a fan placed to receive said suspension and operative todrive it forwards, means for directing said suspension onto the surfaceto be coated, means for simultaneously spraying a liquid onto saidsurface, and a motor connected to reciprocate saidwalls and drive saiddispersing mechanism and said fan. I

9. In an apparatus for applying a coating to a surface, the combinationof a container for loose fibrous material having a tendency to mat, ahopper located adjacent said container, a band mounted to travel throughsaid container and operative to take up the fibrous material, a rotarybrush so placed as to becapable of detaching fibres from said band andforming them into a suspension in air inside said hopper, a fan havingits suction side connected to the base of said hopper and adapted toconvey said suspension forwards, a-conduit connected to the deliveryside of said fan and adapted to discharge said suspension onto thesurface to be coated, andjmeans for simultaneously spraying a liquidonto said surface. 1

10'. In an apparatus for applying a coating to a nism adapted to receiveloose fibrous material having a tendency to mat and to form it into asuspension of fine particles in air, means for exerting suction pressureon. said suspension whereby to drive it forwards, means for directingsaid suspension on to the surface to be coated, and means forsimultaneously spraying a liquid on. to said surface.

11. In an apparatus for applying a coating to a surface, the combinationof a dispersing mechanism adapted to receive loose fibrous materialhaving'a tendency to mat and to form it into a suspension of fineparticlesin air, means for delivering such material to said dispersingmechanism-means for exerting suction pressure on said suspensionwherebyto drive it forwards, means for directing said suspension on to thesurface to be means and forming them into a suspension in air, means forexerting a suction pressure on said suspension thereby to drive itforwards, means be coated, and means for simultaneously spraying aliquid on to said surface.

13. In an apparatus for applying a coating to a surface, the combinationof a dispersing mechanism adapted to form loose fibrous material Ahaving a tendency to mat into a suspension of fine particles in air,means for supplying such \for directing said suspension on to thesurface to material to said dispersing mechanism, means for controllingthe quantity of such material supv plied to said dispersing mechanism, afan placed to receive said suspension and operative to drive itforwards, means for directing said suspension on to the surface to becoated, and means for simultaneously spraying a liquid on to saidsurface.

14. In an apparatus for applying a" coating to a surface, thecombination of a dispersing mechanism adapted to form loose fibrousmaterial having a tendencyto mat into a suspension of fine particles inair, means for supplying such material -to said dispersing. mechanism,means for controlling the quantity of such material su'pplied to thedispersing mechanism, means for, exerting suction pressure on saidsuspension whereby to drive it forwards, means for directing saidsuspension on to the surface to be coated, and means for simultaneouslysprayinga liquid on to said surface.

15. In an apparatus for applying a coating to a surface, the combinationof a dispersing mechanism adapted to receive loose fibrous materialhaving a tendency to mat and to form it into a suspension of fineparticles in air, means for delivering such material to said dispersingmechanism, a fan placed to receive said suspension and operative todrive it forwards, means for directing said suspension on to the surfaceto be coated, means for controlling the operation of said materialdelivering means independently of the operation of said fan, and meansfor spraying a liquid 'on to said surface to be coated simultaneouslywith said suspension.

16. In an apparatus for applying a coating to a surface, the combinationof a dispersing mechanism adapted to receive loose fibrous materialhaving a tendency to mat and to form it into a suspension of fineparticles in air, means for delivering such material to said dispersingmechanism, a fan placed to receive said suspension and operative todrive it forwards, a conduit connected to the delivery side of said fanand-provided with a discharge nozzle, means operatively related to saidnozzle for interrupting the actuation of said material delivering meansindependently of the actuationof said fan, and a spray gun attached tosaid nozzle and adapted to spray liquid on to the surface to be coatedsimultaneously with said suspension.

NORMAN LOUIS DOLBEY.

